Mining firms in Taita Taveta have been accused of targeting land without title deeds from unsuspecting residents. Preliminary studies by Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) indicate that a mining rush in the area is gobbling up large chunks of arable land in total disregard of the locals’ welfare.
Releasing the Taita Taveta Mining report on Thursday, KNCHR commissioner Jedidah Wakongo said in instances where locals have lodged complaints, extractive firms have reportedly bribed police officers to harass the land grabbing victims.
“There has been notoriety of police harassment and brutality at the behest of powerful individuals in the area,” she said. The study warned that residents may end up as squatters on their ancestral land if the mining companies are not restrained.
“After receiving complaints from residents, we deployed several missions who discovered irregular and illegal acquisition of land belonging to the community,” she said.
“The commission was also informed about cases of criminals hiding in the open pits left behind by miners and using the same as safe havens for carrying out criminal activities,” she added. Lands Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi promised to ensure the culprit firms are brought to book.
KNHCH will now commence an eight-day public inquiry on in Taita Taveta sub-counties of Voi, Wundanyi and Mwatate aimed at unearthing rights violations in the area.
Meanwhile, ActionAid Kenya has organised a meeting in October to discuss land ownership rights of women in the country. ActionAid interim head of policy Phillip Kilonzo says issues on land ownership for women in Coast are key to implementation of land reforms.
He said the meeting will address some of the cultural elements that have undermined women’s land ownership in the country, especially in coast regions.
Kilonzo spoke during the ongoing forum on women land ownership rights in Nairobi, held in preparation for the meeting where over 2,000 women from 16 African countries are expected to attend.
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